Marina Erakovic had a bad news/good news day yesterday.
The Aucklander, ranked No 100, was beaten in first-round qualifying for the US $2.1m Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells, California.
She lost in straight sets to world No 147, Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak, 6-0 6-4.
But just when hersights were turning towards Europe and preparing for a tilt at the French Open and Wimbledon, Erakovic has been given a wildcard into qualifying for the game's richest regular-season tournament, the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, starting on March 24.
Total prize money for the combined ATP/WTA event is US$3.77m, the biggest purse outside the end-of-year championship in Qatar and the four Grand Slams. And there is a slim chance Erakovic might get a wildcard directly into the main draw.
Those are usually handed to either American players or those tied to the IMG group, who have a major say in the event.
Erakovic, who turned 20 last Thursday, has made two WTA semifinals this year - Auckland in early January and Memphis at the start of this month.
If she does get a pass into the main draw, it will be her second time, after Bali last September. Bali was a tier-3 event; Miami is tier 1, and the big time.
"It's big points, big exposure, a new step up for her," a delighted Brenda Perry, a member of the Seed Foundation, which helps fund and support rising New Zealand players, said yesterday.
A first-round loser in qualifying in Miami, receives US$1000; a player who makes the main draw and loses in the first round still pockets US$5,160 and gains 20 ranking points. The wildcard has forced a rejig in Erakovic's plans.
She was preparing to head to Europe and getting a couple of clay tournaments under her belt - most likely Fez in Morocco and in Istanbul - ahead of the French Open, which starts in Paris on May 26.
Erakovic has a good chance to get direct entry on her ranking into the field for the second Grand Slam of the year.
She is expected to head to California this week to get coaching from her former mentor, and top New Zealand player, Chris Lewis, before going to Miami.
